Display omitted •Recent progress on catalytic Heck carbonylations using carbon monoxide surrogates is summarized.•Two types of methods, in-situ and ex-situ methods, are described.•These are useful synthetic methods for preparation of various carbonyl compounds. Ongoing efforts toward the development of carbon monoxide (CO) surrogates have changed the way in which carbonylative transformations are conducted. For synthesizing carboxylic acid derivatives, Heck carbonylation using CO surrogates in slight excess has become a more efficient and practical method than the conventional one using large excess of CO gas. To supply CO for the reaction, both in-situ and ex-situ methods has been considered. Herein, we summarize recent progress in catalytic Heck carbonylation using CO surrogates, including discussion of the mechanism for CO generation from recently developed CO surrogates.